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The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials) by Philip Pullman (2001-09-14) Paperback

4.6 out of 5 stars 9,266 ratings
Teachers' pick for school years 1–9
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  1. And I came to believe that good and evil are names for what people do, not for what they are.
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  2. Dust is only a name for what happens when matter begins to understand itself.
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  3. And thus the prophecy that the Master of Jordan College had made to the Librarian, that Lyra would make a great betrayal and it would hurt her terribly, was fulfilled.
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  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0182POUV4
  • Customer reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 9,266 ratings

About the author

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Philip Pullman

Philip Pullman

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PHILIP PULLMAN is one of the most acclaimed writers working today. He is best known for the His Dark Materials trilogy (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass), which has been named one of the top 100 novels of all time by Newsweek and one of the all-time greatest novels by Entertainment Weekly. He has also won many distinguished prizes, including the Carnegie Medal for The Golden Compass (and the reader-voted "Carnegie of Carnegies" for the best children's book of the past seventy years); the Whitbread (now Costa) Award for The Amber Spyglass; a Booker Prize long-list nomination (The Amber Spyglass); Parents' Choice Gold Awards (The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass); and the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, in honor of his body of work. In 2004, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

It has recently been announced that The Book of Dust, the much anticipated new book from Mr. Pullman, also set in the world of His Dark Materials, will be published as a major work in three parts, with the first part to arrive in October 2017.

Philip Pullman is the author of many other much-lauded novels. Other volumes related to His Dark Materials: Lyra’s Oxford, Once Upon a Time in the North, and The Collectors. For younger readers: I Was a Rat!; Count Karlstein; Two Crafty Criminals; Spring-Heeled Jack, and The Scarecrow and His Servant. For older readers: the Sally Lockhart quartet: The Ruby in the Smoke, The Shadow in the North, The Tiger in the Well, and The Tin Princess; The White Mercedes; and The Broken Bridge.

Philip Pullman lives in Oxford, England. To learn more, please visit philip-pullman.com and hisdarkmaterials.com. Or follow him on Twitter at @PhilipPullman.

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4.6 out of 5 stars
9,266 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a fantastic trilogy with an exciting fantastical plot and a wonderfully written journey that brings up lovely thoughts and ideas. Moreover, the book appeals to ages from 12 onwards, with brilliant characters and stunning performances by the cast. However, the pacing receives mixed reactions, with some finding it well-paced while others describe it as slow. Additionally, the book's approach to religion also divides opinions, with one customer appreciating its scientific perspective on original sin, while another finds it too heavy on religious theology.

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135 customers mention ‘Readability’131 positive4 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a fantastic trilogy that is a must-read.

"...absolutely recommend this series, especially to teenagers, as it is a fun read, with animals and magic (a true fantasy book), that still has a lot..." Read more

"First of all, let me just say that this is tree of the best books I've ever read. Book one (Northern Lights) is just awesome...." Read more

"...characters very human qualities, not completely black and white, good or bad, but somewhere in between that it sometimes twists your expectations of..." Read more

"...Genres aside, a great book is a great book." Read more

93 customers mention ‘Storyline’76 positive17 negative

Customers love the storyline of this book, praising its exciting fantastical plot and moving narrative, with one customer highlighting its imaginative finale to the trilogy.

"...series, especially to teenagers, as it is a fun read, with animals and magic (a true fantasy book), that still has a lot to teach and can help us..." Read more

"...The endings of the last two books, and especially the ending of book tree, are just beautiful, and made me almost start crying in public on an..." Read more

"...my first read on a Kindle and again was pleased to find how enjoyable the experience was...." Read more

"...They are original, profound, gripping and simply breathtaking in places. Frankly I envy anyone reading this trilogy for the first time!" Read more

61 customers mention ‘Thought provoking’57 positive4 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, describing it as a wonderfully written journey that brings up lovely thoughts and ideas.

"...read, with animals and magic (a true fantasy book), that still has a lot to teach and can help us find our role in this world." Read more

"...The books gives you a very good introduction as to how the universe(s) work, but I can say that it builds on the theories of multiple universes /..." Read more

"...All credit to Philip Pullman for a wonderfully written journey, with such memorable characters...." Read more

"...a little different to the tight-knit first two books, but remains highly readable, and the pacing keeps up right to the end...." Read more

21 customers mention ‘Character development’16 positive5 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, praising the brilliant characters and stunning performances of the cast, with one customer noting that the main characters are children.

"...Pullman gives his characters very human qualities, not completely black and white, good or bad, but somewhere in between that it sometimes twists..." Read more

"...The cast is simply superb. Many of them would be recognized from BBC radio, but the performances of the child stars are nothing short of fantastic!..." Read more

"...Pullman is a consummate storey teller, his characters and scenes are beautifully portrayed and evocatively described...." Read more

"...It also isn't a very happy tale. There are a lot of deaths of major characters in the story and even Lyra and Will's story has a sting in its tail...." Read more

13 customers mention ‘Appeal to all ages’13 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate that the book appeals to readers of all ages, from 12 years old and up, and is equally engaging for both children and young adults.

"...I absolutely recommend this series, especially to teenagers, as it is a fun read, with animals and magic (a true fantasy book), that still has a lot..." Read more

"...This is a storey for young and old alike, working on so many levels from learning how we develop personally, to helping us understand the world..." Read more

"His Dark Materials is an excellent & engrossing tale for readers of all ages. Comparisons with C.S Lewis & Tolkein should be disregarded...." Read more

"...which is equally engaging for children/young adults and grown-ups...." Read more

12 customers mention ‘Enjoyment’6 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's enjoyment, with some finding it never gets boring while others describe it as dull.

"...I didn't think this final book tied up all loose ends either. It was enjoyable, but I wouldn't call hid Dark Materials my favourite series." Read more

"...Brilliant characters although not all likeable, makes you think. Complicated and challenging but that’s what makes it so brilliant...." Read more

"...Entertaining and thought provoking for both children and adults alike, I'd recommend you read this series at any point in your life." Read more

"...2 is cut off and then a bit more of it is at the end of chapter 3, very annoying!" Read more

11 customers mention ‘Pacing’6 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it well-paced while others describe it as slow.

"...The pace here was a lot slower and as a result I felt the story was given more time to grow and flesh out the details more...." Read more

"...dead and two subplots confuse the story even more, the Mary Molloy sequences are tedious and difficult to see their relevance and the long drawn out..." Read more

"...n't put it down, read it in two sessions.......everything tied together in a satisfactory way...happy ending(?)....gulp.......have a tissue handy..." Read more

"Stunning, surprising, horror and deep love, drama and fantasy - all entwined to trap and embrace your imagination. Read it." Read more

9 customers mention ‘Religion’6 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the religious themes in the book, with one customer appreciating its scientific perspective on original sin, while another expresses disappointment with the heavy theological content.

"...the universe(s) work, but I can say that it builds on the theories of multiple universes / dimensions, where certain events and decisions spawns a..." Read more

"...It is quite heavy on the religious theology for a young person- although this might go over their head as it is all in metaphors...." Read more

"...complicated natures, the beautiful descriptions of other worlds and other beings and also the way he combined science and religion and spirituality..." Read more

"A refreshingly scientific perspective on original sin, Pullman destroys stereotypes and irritates Catholics and Creationists...." Read more

Fitting end, great looking cover, delivered with care
5 out of 5 stars
Fitting end, great looking cover, delivered with care
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Filipa (A Savant Reader)
    5.0 out of 5 stars The best ending for my favourite trilogy of all time!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 May 2016
    Verified Purchase
    “The Amber Spyglass” is the last book of the “His Dark Materials” trilogy and, in my opinion, it is the best of them all. Unlike many bad reviews, I actually liked “The Golden Compass” movie that depicts the story of the first book in the trilogy and that was what incited me to read this series. After that, I cannot express fully how disappointed I was with the movie. This series is so much more than evil Mrs. Coulter trying to separate children from their daemons… These books criticise church and the way they spread their influence (probably because Pullman is an atheist), but they also teach the importance of friendship, of telling the truth and the need to be selfless. The relationship between Lyra and Will absolutely sweep me of my feet and the way they parted hurt me so much (nearly as if I was one of the characters) that I simply couldn’t stop crying; I’ve read the book one year ago and every time I think of that ending I still feel shivers and my eyes grow watery! However, I understand that there could be no other ending as Will and Lyra decided to put the wellbeing of the rest of mankind in front of their own wellbeing, something I find truly beautiful and a lesson worth learning.

    “He meant the kingdom was over, the kingdom of heaven was all finished. We shouldn’t live as if it mattered more than this life in this world, because where we are is always the most important place.”

    I believe this quote sums up what this trilogy is all about, that we should not live with our eyes set in heaven above, but in the people around us, in the world that we live in. I now understand why the movie failed: it was hollow, it lacked all these important moral lessons, they saw it as a children’s book, but “His Dark Materials” goes way beyond that. I absolutely recommend this series, especially to teenagers, as it is a fun read, with animals and magic (a true fantasy book), that still has a lot to teach and can help us find our role in this world.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • flowerbed
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best book series I've read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 September 2012
    Verified Purchase
    First of all, let me just say that this is tree of the best books I've ever read.
    Book one (Northern Lights) is just awesome.
    Book two (Subtle Knife) is bloody genious.
    Book tree (Amber Spyglass) is topping it all of, and a great end to a great trilogy!

    The appearance of this box set is very nice. The art and graphics on the covers are beautiful, and the only thing that would be better was if it was available in a hardcover edition.

    The book revolves around the girl Lyra Belaqua, who sets out to rescue a friend who has been kidnapped. What she does not know is that she is to play a crucial part in saving both her and all other worlds.
    The world in which the story is set is one very much like our own, but slightly different. The books gives you a very good introduction as to how the universe(s) work, but I can say that it builds on the theories of multiple universes / dimensions, where certain events and decisions spawns a new universe which affect how the world in that universe evolves. (Don't really know just how to explain this).
    I would not call it fantasy or sci-fi, but rather something in between.

    Anyway, if you enjoy fiction at all, I would strongly recommend these books. And after having read them, I must say that I do envy those of you who have yet to read them for the first time. The endings of the last two books, and especially the ending of book tree, are just beautiful, and made me almost start crying in public on an airplane.
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  • Andy
    4.0 out of 5 stars A wonderfully written journey and a conclusion that will stay with you afterwards
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 October 2019
    Verified Purchase
    An excellent read and conclusion to Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' series.

    After the cliffhanger ending from the previous book, 'The Amber Spyglass' picks up the pieces with Mrs Coulter holed up in a cave 'looking after' a sedated Lyra, and Will, still smarting from the death of his father and the disappearance of Lyra, is now accompanied by a pair of angels in his search for her, and with the Subtle Knife still in his possession, Will must travel through other worlds in order to rescue Lyra before the Magisterium can get to her.

    As Pullman's trilogy has progressed, so the tone of the story has gotten that little bit darker with each subsequent book (Not least because we visit the land of the dead here, which also happened to be one of my favourite sequences in the book), but so much so, that 'The Amber Spyglass' feels so far removed and more sedate than the beginning of Lyra's journey in the more action packed and faster paced 'Northern Lights / The Golden Compass'. The pace here was a lot slower and as a result I felt the story was given more time to grow and flesh out the details more. As such, it felt like the story matured alongside Lyra as she became of age. The slower momentum of the story isn't a complaint, far from it, but just an observation, as it certainly drew me more into narrative and into the characters of Will and Lyra.

    We also meet some familiar faces that we've gotten to know over the course of the trilogy, which was very welcome, as well as some new ones too. Pullman gives his characters very human qualities, not completely black and white, good or bad, but somewhere in between that it sometimes twists your expectations of what to expect from certain characters, adding many layers of depth to his characterizations. Even with Will and Lyra, the 'young and innocent' protagonists, they have to do what it takes to fulfil their quest, even if it means lying, threaten and even kill!

    There is also more of Pullman's theological exploration, as Lord Asriel's war on the Magisterium and The Authority gathers pace to its conclusion. Although I lean towards the atheist aspect, and agree with Lord Asriel's point of view of enlightenment over blind obedience, he still comes across as a most unlikeable character, very cold and calculated, even towards his wife and daughter. Whereas my assumptions of Marisa Coulter were turned on it's head completely and I had more empathy for her by the end. A mother doing what she must to protect her daughter.

    And the ending is such a bittersweet one. After all that Lyra and Will have gone through, and with it being classed as a younger readers book, you might have at least expected some kind of happy ever after. Almost but not quite, as what we got was heartbreaking. I closed the book glassy eyed but still with a smile on my face, as two of my favourite book characters, Lyra Balacqua and Will Parry, came to the end of their quest on that park bench in Oxford's Botanical Gardens.

    All credit to Philip Pullman for a wonderfully written journey, with such memorable characters. And with his new 'The Book Of Dust' trilogy, we get to see Lyra and revisit this world again. I can't wait.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Leon Miller
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant and important.
    Reviewed in the United States on 18 February 2025
    Verified Purchase
    What else can be said about a trilogy that has been universally acclaimed as one of the greatest imaginative works of our time? Only this: be sure to purchase the full cast audiobook and follow along in Kindle with it. The audio version is outstanding.
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  • Luciana
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente
    Reviewed in Brazil on 24 July 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Ótimo produto
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  • elena
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love it!
    Reviewed in Spain on 12 August 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I have looking for a long time after the Philipe Pullman audiobook, His Dark Materials. I found this one one a bargain and I just bought it. There are 12 CD for the third book, The Amber Glass, and I will look for the other 2 books too. The audio is great, I just love the book and the audio. Phillip Pullman is one of my favourite writers!
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  • Edmundo Zarate Alanis
    5.0 out of 5 stars trepidante y atrapante
    Reviewed in Mexico on 1 August 2021
    Verified Purchase
    La cpnclusión de la saga, que ata todos los cabos sueltos en una narrativa excepcional.
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  • Jane Farries
    5.0 out of 5 stars I disagree -- I'm glad I was an adult and had some higher learning ...
    Reviewed in Canada on 19 July 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I heard a reviewer say he wished he'd been younger when Pullman's trilogy came out. I disagree -- I'm glad I was an adult and had some higher learning under my belt, just to appreciate the sheer magnitude of the imagination behind this saga. What's better is that all my childhood love of fantasy and adventure roared back to life. I still think about having my own daemon, years after I first read this series. Brilliant work.
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